Wednesday, November 5

Daily WHUFC News - 5th November 2014

Sakho and Reid set to face Villans
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have been handed a double injury boost ahead of Saturday's clash with Aston Villa
03.11.2014

West Ham United have been handed a double injury boost with news that Diafra Sakho and Winston Reid should both be fit to face Aston Villa. With Andy Carroll also edging ever closer to a return following his recovery from a long-term ankle problem, manager Sam Allardyce could have a selection headache come Saturday afternoon. Sakho missed Saturday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at Stoke City with the shoulder injury he suffered late in the home win over Manchester City on 25 October. Reid, meanwhile, was forced off with a dead leg midway through the first half at the Britannia Stadium following a collision with Potters midfielder Steven N'Zonzi. However, Hammers Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke confirmed that both will be available to face the Villans, barring any unforeseen setbacks. "Winston came out of the game with a dead leg," Vandenbroucke confirmed. "He did not train on Monday but will train later in the week and will be available for the game on Saturday. "Diafra ran individually on Monday at Chadwell Heath and will also be available for the game. "Andy Carroll trained and played in a behind-closed-doors match last week, which he came though, and will continue to train this week. "Guy Demel is suffering from a thigh problem, but we hope to have him available following the international break."

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Best honoured in Bermuda
WHUFC.com
West Ham United legend Clyde Best has been honoured in his hometown in Bermuda
04.11.2014

Former West Ham United striker Clyde Best has had a road named after him in his native Bermuda, celebrating his contribution to Bermudan sport. Best joined the Hammers in 1969 before going on to score 58 goals in 213 appearances for the Club. A hugely popular figure in Bermuda, in east London and beyond, he became the second-ever black player, after John Charles, to play for West Ham. After leaving the Boleyn Ground in 1976, he played in North America for a number of different clubs, including the Portland Timbers, as well as a brief stint with Feyenoord in Holland. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in his hometown of Somerset, Bermuda, the 63-year-old said "It's a great thing to have done, not only for me but for those that set the stage for me."

In front of an audience including his wife Alfreda, family members and an array of politicians, sportspeople and public figures, Best continued: "It's never been about me. It's been about the people of Bermuda. I thank you from the bottom of my heart — all the fans, all the people that have supported me all of the years. Let us continue to do the good work."

Also speaking at the ceremony was Bermudan Sports Minister Wayne Scott, who said: "It's great to see so many people out here — it speaks to the significance of what Clyde Best means to our community. Clyde is arguably one of the greatest sportsmen Bermuda ever produced."
Alongside the renaming of the road just outside Somerset Cricket Club, Alfred Maybury, the Club's president explained November 1 would become known as Clyde Best Day. "I'm going to thank you for coming in recognition of what we are trying to do and know that this is not the end. "There are people previously that have battled for us, for Somerset and Bermuda, that we need to start recognising and making sure that when the generations come behind, they know the part they played in this community and this country."

Best's status as a national hero has previously been celebrated as he joined the National Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and was awarded an MBE in 2006. Two years later, the world governing body of football, FIFA, awarded Best the order of merit.

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West Ham's Diafra Sakho back for Aston Villa match on Saturday
BBC.co.uk

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is set to return for Saturday's Premier League match against Aston Villa. The summer arrival from Metz was forced to sit out the Hammers 2-2 draw at Stoke on Saturday after injuring his shoulder in the victory over reigning champions Manchester City. Sakho scored the winner as West Ham won 2-1 against City on October 25 but later collided with Joe Hart. The Senegal international has hit six goals in his first six league starts. Sakho was not risked at the Britannia Stadium as Sam Allardyce's side came from two
goals down to take a point and it was feared he might be out for a month.

But Stijn Vandenbroucke, West Ham's head of medical and sports science, has revealed Sakho will be back at Upton Park on Saturday - and also confirmed club-record signing Andy Carroll is closing in on a first-team return having been ruled out since a pre-season ankle operation. "Diafra ran individually on Monday at Chadwell Heath and will be available for the game," Vandenbroucke told the club's official website. "Andy Carroll trained and played in a behind-closed-doors match last week, which he came though, and will continue to train this week."

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Winston Reid agrees new contract, says Star
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 4th November 2014
By: Staff Writer

It's not one we can confirm or deny at present, but a tabloid is claiming tonight that Winston Reid is on the verge of signing a new contract with West Ham. Alex Harris, writing for the Daily Star insists that Reid is on the verge of snubbing the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal by putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract with West Ham. "According to reports, the Hammers defender is set to sign a new deal until 2019," wrote Harris tonight in a piece published by the tabloid. That comes just three weeks after co-chairman David Gold revealed that the New Zealand international had been offered a new, improved deal. "We hope to keep him and have made him a very competitive offer," said DG, speaking last month - although there had been no further developments until tonight. Reid moved to West Ham in a £4million switch from Danish club Midtjylland in 2010, following a successful World Cup campaign during which he scored for New Zealand. Having initially struggled to hold a first team place down, following the departure of Avram Grant he became a staple in Allardyce's defence and has gone on to make 111 appearances for West Ham. In recent months he has been linked with a string of top tier clubs and despite having been offered improved terms to extend his stay, had refused to sign a new deal with West Ham. It is rumoured that Reid is seeking circa £80,000 per week; West Ham's recent offer is said to fall some way short of that at circa £60,000 per week.

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Sakh back to make Villa crack
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 4th November 2014
By: Staff Writer

Diafra Sakho is set to return to West Ham's starting line-up this weekend when struggling Aston Villa visit the Boleyn Ground. Sakho, who has scored in every match he has started for West Ham since signing from Metz in the summer missed last weekend's 2-2 draw at Stoke with a shoulder problem. However the striker - who was ruled out of the trip to the Britannia after a late fitness test on Friday afternoon - is expected to once again line up alongside striker partner Enner Valencia when the under-fire Paul Lambert brings his side to London. "We think Sakho will be back for the next game," confirmed manager Sam Allardyce. "There's no dislocation; it's a cartilage problem so it's bruised and the pain is still pretty tender but it's getting better every day and hopefully he'll be back."

With Sakho's striker partner Andy Carroll - who he is yet to play alongside - also on the cusp of returning from injury, Sam Allardyce could face the prospect of having a full fit squad to choose from for the first time in 2014 within the next few weeks. Meanwhile the under-pressure Lambert, whose Villa side have lost their last six consecutive Premier League outings will have to do without key striker Christian Benteke when they travel to Upton Park. The Belgian international was sent off for violent conduct during the 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday and now faces a three-match ban, which begins this weekend.

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Lee returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 4th November 2014
By: Staff Writer

Elliot Lee has returned to West Ham - just three days after joining League Two Southend on a three-month loan. The 19-year-old striker completed the switch to Roots Hall ahead of last weekend's fixtures in order to gain some much-needed first team football in the fourth tier. However disaster apparently struck less than an hour into his first full training session, according to Southend manager Phil Brown.
"Elliot came to us fully fit but 35 minutes in to his first session he pulled up with a muscle strain," Brown told the Echo. "He's gone back to get that assessed at West Ham and will have a scan today. That will tell us more, hopefully it won't be too bad."

Just minutes after Lee's temporary transfer was confirmed on Friday morning, the striker took to Twitter to post a comment stating "how's my luck?" - followed by two sad emoticons. Later in the day that message was removed, which led to speculation suggesting that the striker may have sustained an injury - as confirmed some 48 hours later.

Elliot Lee ✔ @ElliotLee9
Gutted to pick up an injury yesterday in training. Fingers crossed it isn't too serious and I can get back to @SUFCRootsHall ASAP! 😤🙏⚽️

Lee had been in line to make his debut for the Blues at Mansfield last weekend, but could now be forced to wait several weeks before being able to do so. He previously spent time on loan at Colchester (2013/14 season) when he made four appearances during a one-month spell with the League One side and has made just two first team appearances for West Ham thus far, despite having been on the fringes of the first team squad for the last 18 months or so. Lee made his first team debut at West Ham in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Manchester United in January 2013, before making his only Premier League appearance so far as a late sub in a 1-0 home defeat to Stoke in August of the same year.

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Diafra Sakho set for Saturday return from injury for West Ham
Last Updated: 04/11/14 1:28pm
SSN

West Ham's top striker Diafra Sakho looks set to return against Aston Villa on Saturday after recovering from a shoulder injury. Sakho has scored seven goals in his first seven games in all competitions for West Ham since joining the club from Metz in the summer. He picked up the shoulder injury in the Hammers' recent victory over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City and was forced to sit out the 2-2 draw at Stoke over the weekend. West Ham on Tuesday said he has recovered from the injury and is in line to return to the squad for the Premier League match against Aston Villa at Upton Park. The 24-year-old scored the crucial second goal when West Ham defeated City 2-1 at home on October 25. A collision with City goalkeeper Joe Hart led to Sakho being substituted and he was not risked at the Britannia Stadium as Sam Allardyce's side came from two goals down to take a point. But Stijn Vandenbrouke, West Ham's head of medical and sports science, has revealed Sakho will be back at Upton Park on Saturday - and also confirmed club-record signing Andy Carroll is closing in on a first-team return having been ruled out since a pre-season ankle operation. "Diafra ran individually on Monday at Chadwell Heath and will be available for the game," Vandenbroucke told the club's official website. "Andy Carroll trained and played in a behind-closed-doors match last week, which he came through, and will continue to train this week."

Allardyce will be further boosted by the news Winston Reid will also be available to take on out-of-form Villa after the New Zealand international suffered a dead leg at Stoke. The point against Mark Hughes' side leaves West Ham fifth in the table, level with Arsenal having won half of their opening 10 fixtures . Sakho made his international debut for Senegal in a friendly in May this year but, because he has not yet played a competitive international for the country of his birth, is still eligible to play for France.

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Reid rumours on rise again
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

The Winston Reid "will he won't he" guessing game emerged again this evening when a national tabloid claimed the central defender will sign a new four year deal with the Hammers. The story opens with the announcement: "According to reports, the Hammers defender is set to sign a new deal until 2019. It then claims this will come as a blow to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, "who have been keeping tabs on his situation."

And it's followed with some previously published quotes from Sam Allardyce which say: "It's not that he doesn't want to stay. It's about the financial remuneration and whether they can come to the right level, give or take or negotiation that gets us to a point where he will say, 'yes'."

Unfortunately what the story doesn't do is provide any quotes from Reid, his adviser or even an Upton Park insider claiming a deal is close. All a bit bizarre! The first two paragraphs are simply allowed to stand as statements of fact and although every Iron in the country will want to believe the story it would be nice to see some more meat on the bone. Since checking the story over the last half an hour we have been told again the Hammers offer to the player is in the region of £60k but that – despite Sam's comments – the scenario was not solely about personal terms. Reid is also keenm for European football. And in the last few minutes we were told: "There's more hope as Winston can see the progress being made this season both on the pitch and the development of the Rush Green Training Centre. He sees a club with ambition moving on in all directions "Also, there have been no enquries for the player either formally or informally."

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French firm favourites to run OS
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 4, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

AEG and French firm Vinci are going toe to toe to become the main operator of the Olympic Stadium. The process is nearing completion with an announcement by the London Legacy Development Corporation expected in the next few weeks. Word is that Vinci will be announced as the preferred bidder of the 10 year contract to manage the Olympic Stadium with AEG finishing a close second. AEG currently manages the O2 and initially suggested a failed joint venture with Spurs to knock down the Olympic Stadium and rebuild the stadium. Vinci is a large construction and facilities management company which already runs stadiums including Paris's Parc des Princes venue, Stade de France, M M Arena and the Allianz Riviera. Vinci Concessions is primarily active in airports, motorways and road infrastructure, rail infrastructure, stadiums and parking. The winner of the contract will be responsible for staging concerts, corporate events and working with the stadium's new concessionaire West Ham United from 2016. It will be this management company who will have the responsibility on any future ground sharing arrangements with West Ham.

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West Ham ace set to snub reported Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United interest
Freddie Shires
HITC

West Ham United's in-demand centre-back Winston Reid is on the verge of signing a new deal at the club, according to reports.
Winston Reid is set to end speculation surrounding his West Ham United future and sign a new deal until 2019, according to a report from the Daily Star. Reid, 26, had entered the final season of his contract at Upton Park, and the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United were all understood to be keeping tabs on the situation, in preparation for a potential approach in the coming transfer window.
The Gunners were even said to have made a late bid for the New Zealand captain at the summer deadline, and West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admitted only last month that he wasn't sure whether the club would be able to keep hold of their star centre-back. 'It is not only a concern for me, but it is a concern for the owners,' he said. 'There's been talk about Winston and his contract for a pretty long period now. 'It's not that he doesn't want to stay. It's about the financial remuneration and whether they can come to the right level, give or take or negotiation that gets us to a point where he will say, "yes". 'That's always the hard bit. It's always a difficult negotiation. If we could tie him up tomorrow then I think the owners particularly and myself would like that and not have it lingering. 'Hopefully sooner rather than later that will come to a conclusion and a positive one. I can only hope that is going to be a positive result in the end.' Reid has played 115 games for West Ham since arriving from Danish club FC Midtjylland in August 2010, following an impressive World Cup campaign, and was named Hammer of the Year for the 2012-13 season after helping the side to a 10th-place finish in their top-flight return. With Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all needing help at the back, he could have proven an excellent low-cost addition, but it now looks like the three will have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.

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Andy Carroll set to return from ankle injury in West Ham practice match almost six months after last playing in Premier League
West Ham's Andy Carroll is primed to play against Southend on Wednesday
The England international has been absent with an ankle injury
Carroll recently proposed to girlfriend Billi Mucklow in Rome
By MATT LAWTON FOR MAIL ONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:11, 4 November 2014 | UPDATED: 22:05, 4 November 2014
Daily Mail

West Ham striker Andy Carroll is set to make his return from injury in a practice match on Wednesday against Southend at Chadwell Heath.
The England international is yet to feature this season due to an ankle injury but is primed to play. Club-record signing Carroll will make his eagerly-anticipated return barring any last-minute setbacks almost six months after last featuring for West Ham against Manchester City on May 11. Meanwhile, Diafra Sakho has recovered from a shoulder injury and is in line to make a welcome return to the squad for Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against Aston Villa. The summer arrival from Metz was forced to sit out the 2-2 draw at Stoke over the weekend after suffering the knock in the recent victory over reigning champions Manchester City. Stijn Vandenbrouke, West Ham's head of medical and sports science, has revealed Sakho will be back at Upton Park on Saturday. 'Diafra ran individually on Monday at Chadwell Heath and will be available for the game,' Vandenbroucke told the club's official website.

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And here's something you don't see everyday.. Miaga scoring twice in a game!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiBeoiSeeCc&feature=player_embedded

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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